Popularizing Odonates and Capacity Building for Research
The dragonflies and damselflies are getting an increasing attention among the general public in the recent years.
As an active member of the Butterfly Conservation Society of Sri Lanka (BCSSL), I have been conducting various programs and activities with the BCSSL team to popularize dragonflies, increase public awareness on them and building capacity of undergraduates and amateur naturalists to study odonates. In addition to my work with BCSSL, I also conduct programs in collaboration with other organizations.
As an active member of the Butterfly Conservation Society of Sri Lanka (BCSSL), I have been conducting various programs and activities with the BCSSL team to popularize dragonflies, increase public awareness on them and building capacity of undergraduates and amateur naturalists to study odonates. In addition to my work with BCSSL, I also conduct programs in collaboration with other organizations.
Public TalksA series of 6 public lectures on Odonata identification was conducted as monthly lectures of the BCSSL during 2016/2017. It was the first such series of talks to be conducted in Sri Lanka.
Online talks on dragonflies of Sri Lanka |
Brochures on Wetland DragonfliesThe BCSSL has produced a brochure on dragonflies of urban wetlands of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. This consists photographs of 30 different odonata species commonly seen in these wetlands thus it is a helpful guide to identify these species in the field.
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Butterfly and Dragonfly Race
The first ever Butterfly and Dragonfly Race in Sri Lanka was conducted by the BCSSL in June 2016 at Diyasaru Park, Thalawathugoda. 39 participants from 9 teams took part in this event. It was held in the form of a friendly competition followed by a brief session with experts in the field.
This became an annual event organized by the BCSSL and it has always received a wide participation of students and amateur naturalist. The 2019 event was held Seethawaka Botanical Gardens for the first time. Official event albums: 2016, 2017 and 2019. Articles covering the events: 2016, 2018 |
Field Workshops on Sri Lankan DragonfliesThe Butterfly Conservation Society of Sri Lanka conducted the first ever field workshop on Sri Lankan dragonflies at Sinharaja World Heritage Forest Reserve from 5th to 8th August 2016. 15 participants attended the workshop including undergraduates from several universities.
The second event in the series was held in 2020 with the financial assistance of the Rufford Foundation. This was also held at Sinharaja and 25 student participants out of 150 applicants were selected to attend the workshop. Official workshop albums: 2016. 2020. Articles on the workshops: 2016 Agrion Vol.21(1). 2020 Agrion Vol.21(5) and Krumithuru Vol.2(2) |
Field Study Programs by Dilmah ConservationThe Dilmah Conservation team organizes field study programs on dragonflies and damselflies to promote the subject among the general public and the Dilmah team. First such event was held on 1 July 2017 at Beddagana Wetland Park where I participated as the resource person of the program.
A quick introduction to the odonates was followed by a nature walk around the park studying the species we could observe. It was an interactive session and the program ended with a Q and A session mainly focused on odonate conservation. |